EXCLUSIVE: Private Practice co-executive producers Jennifer Cecil and Barbie Kligman have been promoted to executive producers/co-head writers on the ABC medical drama. The duo will run the writers room, working with Private Practice creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes who will continue as showrunner, a role she holds on all three of her series. Cecil and Kligman succeed Steve Blackman and Craig Turk who served as executive producers/co-head writers for the past two years. Private Practice has been renewed for a sixth season with a 13-episode order.

After four seasons on Private Practice, Turk recently segued to an overall deal with CBS TV Studios, with Blackman also moving on after four years on the show. UTA-repped Cecil joined Private Practice midway through the fourth season. She previously served as a co-executive producer on 90210 and Brothers & Sisters. WME-repped Kligman has been with Private Practice since the beginning of Season 4. Before that she was a co-executive producer on Vampire Diaries.